Harper Government Announces Funding to Tackle Climate Change

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 17, 2013) - The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today announced that seven innovative environmental projects will benefit from more than $32 million in research funding over five years through the new Climate Change and Atmospheric Research (CCAR) initiative. The funding will support teams composed of university researchers, scientists and partner organizations who will work together to advance our understanding of climate and the risks related to climate change.

"Our government is supporting research related to climate change through the creation of the Climate Change and Atmospheric Research initiative," said Minister of State Goodyear. "We are confident that the knowledge generated through these projects will help improve the quality of life of all Canadians."

Established in 2011, CCAR is administered by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and supports climate change and atmospheric research at Canadian post-secondary institutions. Research projects funded through CCAR involve interpreting earth system processes; advancing weather, climate and environmental prediction; and understanding recent changes in the Arctic and cold region environments.

"Strong environmental leadership includes strategic investments in science and research," said the Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of the Environment. "Canadians will benefit in many ways from the project grants announced today. Our understanding of climate science and atmospheric processes in the North will be strengthened through increased collaboration between university and government scientists."

"The knowledge and expertise being brought together as part of these innovative research networks give Canada an advantage in understanding and predicting climate," said Isabelle Blain, Vice-President of Research Grants and Scholarships at NSERC. "The insights provided by these diverse and talented teams will showcase Canada's world-class research capacity in key areas of climate and atmospheric research and innovation."

The seven teams receiving grants of up to $5 million over a maximum of five years through the CCAR initiative are:

• Network on Climate and Aerosols (NETCARE): Addressing Key Uncertainties in Remote Canadian Environments;
  
  
• Research related to the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory (PEARL): Probing the Atmosphere of the High Arctic;
  
  
• Canadian Arctic GEOTRACES Program: Biogeochemical and Tracer Study of a Rapidly Changing Arctic Ocean;
  
  
• Canadian Sea Ice and Snow Evolution (CanSISE) Network;
  
  
• Ventilation, Interactions and Transports Across the Labrador Sea (VITALS);
  
  
• Canadian Network for Regional Climate and Weather Processes; and
  
  
• Changing Cold Regions Network (CCRN).
  
  

Since 2006, the Harper Government has provided more than $9 billion in new funding for initiatives to support science, technology and the growth of innovative firms. Economic Action Plan 2013 builds on this strong foundation, helping to position Canada for sustainable, long-term economic prosperity and provide a higher quality of life for Canadians.

NSERC is a federal agency that helps make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for all Canadians. The agency supports almost 30,000 post-secondary researchers and post-doctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding approximately 12,000 professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging over 2,400 Canadian companies to participate and invest in post-secondary research projects.

For more information on the CCAR initiative and to learn more about each project, please visit NSERC's website (www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca).